If you care about democracy, misinformation, or what’s really going on in the American political machine — then you’ve heard of Thom Hartmann.

This week on Schmidt Show PDX, we sit down with the nation’s #1 progressive talk show host to dig into the state of democracy, the rise of disinformation, and how local media — yes, podcasts like this one — can help turn the tide.

We talk about:
– The role of independent media in pushing back against corporate consolidation
– How misinformation spreads — and who profits from it
– Why platforms like The Thom Hartmann Program still matter in an age of AI clickbait
– And how Oregon’s political soul connects to national conversations

🧠 And because we couldn’t resist: Thom joins us for a trivia game, “Hamilton or The West Wing?” — where he tries to guess whether a quote about democracy came from the Founding Fathers or fictional TV politicians. (Spoiler: he was alarmingly good.)

🎧 Tune in and find out:
– Why local journalism might be our last best hope
– How Thom connects with other media icons like Sam Seder (host of The Majority Report) and David Sirota, creator of the hit investigative podcast Lever Time
– Why Wajahat Ali’s book, Go Back to Where You Came From, is one of the sharpest reflections on race, media, and belonging in America today
– And how a single conversation in New Orleans (yes, we talk about that night) brought together voices shaping progressive media across the country

📰 Related Media You Should Absolutely Check Out:
– 📻 The Thom Hartmann Program
– 🎙️ The Majority Report with Sam Seder
– 🧨 Lever Time from The Lever
– 📚 Go Back to Where You Came From by Wajahat Ali

📱 Subscribe to Schmidt Show PDX on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your media-with-a-backbone. 
💬 Leave a review. Share the episode. Tell a friend. 

🎤 Because the only thing louder than disinformation… is a mic in the right hands.

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